How to Clean A Mattress Naturally

On average, adults spend about a third of their lives in bed! Spending so much time in bed means we want to make sure we are sleeping on the cleanest mattress possible. Mattresses are often a significant investment in most homes, and as such, should be well taken care of to promote longevity. Discover how to clean a mattress using only a few simple supplies like baking soda, essential oils, and dish soap.

What You’ll Need

Mattresses are often overlooked as part of routine cleaning, leading to the build-up of dust, residue, debris, food crumbs, and more unwanted bed residents. That doesn’t sound like something we want to spend a third of our life laying on. Unfortunately, many popular household cleaners and detergents use harsh chemicals that can damage the delicate fabric of a mattress.

Luckily, cleaning a mattress naturally is easy and can be done using ingredients you already have in your home. No overpowering chemical smells, or potentially harmful fumes for your most sacred space.

Cleaning a mattress without the use of chemicals is so easy to do and doesn’t take as much time as you may think. During your Spring cleaning routine, carve out a little extra time to give your bed a much-needed refresh. When you’re ready to clean your mattress, the first thing you’ll want to do is gather your supplies. A few must-haves for cleaning a mattress include:

1. 16-ounce box of baking soda
2. Cold water
3. Old towels or rags for applying solution and cleaning
4. Gentle laundry detergent (bleach free)
5. Dish soap
6. Essential oils
7. A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment

It’s important to avoid any harsh detergents or chemicals because they may damage the fabric on your mattress. Instead, opt for a gentle detergent or stick with dish soap.

Prepare Your Mattress To Be Cleaned

Once you’ve gathered your cleaning supplies, the next thing you want to do is prepare your mattress for a good cleaning. To do this, follow these simple steps to get your mattress ready in no time:

1. Strip and wash your bedding. The first step to cleaning a mattress is to strip off all the bedding and throw any pillowcases, sheets, and blankets in the washing machine. Be sure to check the labels for care instructions, so there isn’t any damage to your bedding. Washing your bedding is a great way to multitask while cleaning a mattress. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a fully fresh oasis for a good night’s rest. Treat yourself to extra soft sheets with a high-quality fabric softener as the cherry on top of your newly refreshed bed.
2. Vacuum the mattress. Once you’ve removed all bedding, you want to give your bed a good vacuuming to remove any dust and debris. Use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment and gently glide across the mattress. Make sure to vacuum the seams in all directions to get the best surface to start cleaning. Make long straight motions from the top to bottom of your mattress, then side to side.
3. Spot clean if needed. Once you’ve removed your bedding and vacuumed, you may notice some stains. To easily remove those unsightly spots, you can make your own mattress-friendly spot remover with a few simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. Mattress saving tip: do not apply any soaps or solutions directly to a memory foam mattress. Sponges, spray bottles, or rags may be used to apply a small amount of solution to the mattress.
   • To Remove Sweat and Urine Stains: Make a DIY spray solution combining 8 oz of 3% hydrogen peroxide, a small squirt of dish soap, and 3 tbsp baking soda.
   • To Remove Other Stubborn Stains: Combine 2 tbsp of a white, powdered laundry detergent with 1 tbsp of cold water to create a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and wait 10 minutes. Then, spray the area with hydrogen peroxide and gently wipe away the residue.

How To Clean a Mattress With Baking Soda

Now that you’ve prepared your mattress to be cleaned, here’s how to clean a mattress with baking soda. First, make your cleaning solution using baking soda and essential oil. Essential oils are a great way to help deodorize your mattress and aid in warding off gross invaders like dust mites. Specifically, some studies suggest that clove and eucalyptus essential oils can help rid your mattress of dust mites.

Why Use Baking Soda To Clean A Mattress?

With so many chemical cleaning agents available, why should you use simple baking soda? Baking soda is known to naturally trap unwanted odors and moisture. Baking soda is also mild and can be used on almost any fabric.

To clean a mattress with baking soda and essential oil, follow these simple steps:

Combine about ten drops of your favorite essential oil to your baking soda box and gently shake to combine. The result will be a paste consistency that you can spread all over your mattress. To apply the paste, you will massage it into your mattress, being sure to cover the entire surface area. The mixture will help wick away odors, moisture, dirt, and residue. Leave the mixture on your mattress to work its cleaning magic for at least one hour. Then, you will vacuum away the mixture and any dust mites that may be present. You can also combine baking soda with a small amount of vinegar to remove stains.

Some Final Thoughts On Cleaning a Mattress

When cleaning a mattress in your home, be sure to check care instructions that may have been included with your mattress purchase. Some newer styles of mattresses include specific cleaning instructions to preserve the quality of the fabric. Also, note that memory foam mattresses need to avoid excess moisture since they are basically large sponges. If you have a memory foam mattress, be sure to let it completely dry before putting bedding on top. Skipping the drying process can form mold and mildew inside your mattress.

To keep your newly cleaned mattress fresh, consider purchasing a mattress protector. Mattress protectors are relatively inexpensive and can help extend the life and quality of your mattress. Mattress protectors can also defend the mattress against allergens and stains.

If you’ve cleaned your mattress and it’s still dingy, it may be time for a new one. The average recommended life cycle of a mattress is between 6 and 8 years. So, if you’re still sleeping on a mattress from college, it’s high time to replace it. If you’re not sure when to replace your mattress, check out these tips from Sleep Foundation.

Keeping your mattresses clean and safe is important for overall healthy living. A great night’s sleep is linked to better moods, a more robust immune system, and an overall better quality of life.

For even more tips on keeping your home naturally clean, keep reading the Public Goods blog.